CHICAGO, IL (April 7, 2014) — Virgilio P. Elizonda, a Roman Catholic priest and professor of pastoral and Hispanic theology at the University of Notre Dame, will present the Nyvall Lectures at North Park Theological Seminary on Thursday.

He is considered one of the leading scholars in the area of Hispanic theology and “the father of Latino religious thought in the United States.”

Elizonda has advocated for justice on behalf of immigrants and was the recipient of the Community of Christ International Peace Award in 2007. He has published numerous books, including The Future Is Mestizo, Galilean Journey, and The Human Quest.

The first lecture will run from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Central time. The second lecture will be presented from 10:45 a.m. to noon.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held in Isaacson Chapel of Nyvall Hall.

The lectures also will be webcast live.